Internal-combustion engine



.uy 23 i929., N, F, HANSQN `,'72l,624

INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 17, 1928 l 5 Sheets-Sheet l n'fuentor Na'l-s Hanson Wl www2. N. F. HANSON WL-524 Mmmm conmusTIoM mamma mma April 1'?, 192 5 shuts-sham v2 Inventor N. F. HANsoN ,'J2l,624

INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINE Juy W, 1929.,

Filed April 1'?. 192e 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @MyW-@mm Inventor /6 Meis F. Hamm July 23 1929. N. HANsoN 1,721,624

ITBRUAL COHBUSTIOH NGXHE fuga April 17, 192e 5 Sheets-She'et 5 Inventor Patented July 23, 1929..

UNITED STATES v1,721,624 PATENT oFFlcE.

'NIELS F. -I-IANSON, OF GUNNISON, UTAH, ASSIGNOR T0 ROYAL HANSEN, 0F STERLING, UTAH.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION, ENGINE.

Application led April 17,

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine of the rotary type in which the ,cylinder is made in circular formation and a rotor operates therein.

Some of the important objects of the invention are to harness more of the power of the gasoline used as fuel, to piovide a relatively more powerful engine with a lighter weight, to minimizevibration, to avoid loss of power in the stopping and starting of pistons as in the ordinary reciprocating internal combustion engine, to shorten the intake stroke of the piston without loss of sufficient combustible gas mixture for eflicient compression and power stroke, to lengthen the power stroke thereby utilizing more of the power of the fuel to eliminate numerous moving parts such as wrist pins, connecting rod bearings and the usual main bearings found in the ordinary reciprocating type of engine, to reduce carbon deposits in the engine to minimize friction.

A still further very important object of the invention resides in the provision of a `rotary internal combustion engine of this type which is comparatvely simple in its construction, has its parts arra-nged in a compact and convenient manner, is strong and durable, economical, andthoroughly efficient and reliable in operation. y i

Vith the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description pro: eeeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangementof parts as will be hereinafter more fully described alud claimed.'

' In the'drawing:

Figure l is an end elevation of the engine embodying the features of this invention showing portions in vertical transverse section,

Figure2 is a side elevation of the engine,

Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof looking in yan opposite direction from that shown 'in Figure 1, i

Figure t is a vertical transverse section through the rotor,

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, Y

Figure 6 is a detail "section taken through the piston having the firing chamber substantially4 on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;,

Figure 7 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 1,

1928. Serial No. 270,745.

Figure 8 is a similar section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the piston having the firing chamber,

Figure 10 is a sectional view therethrough taken at right angles to that shown in Figure 6,

Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the valves' associated with thepiston having the combustion chamber,

Figure 12 is a detail section taken substantially on the line y12-12 of Figure 3 for illustrating the lubricating means,

Figure 13 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 13-13 of Figure 12, and

Figure 14 is a detail fragmentary section showing the spring pressed packing ring.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes Va cylinder which is of circular formation concentrically disposed about a shaft 9. This cylinder 5 is formed with a slot of continuous formation in the innermost portion of its wall as is indicated at 10. The shaft 9 is rotatable in a pair of bearings 6,A from which radiate outwardly arms 7 inclining inwardly toward each other and having their outer ends attached to the n side portions of the circular cylinder 5. These arms 7 form the framework of the engine which may be mounted on a base structure 11 of suitable or preferred formation.

A rotor is indicated generally by the letter R which comprises a relatively long section 12 of relatively large cross sectional area and" a section 14 of relatively short and relatively small cross sectional area having disposed between one set of adjacent ends a solid piston P and a hollow piston P.V The relatively long and relatively large cross sectional area vsection 12 may be formed in a plurality of segments a if so desired as is indicated in Figure 1. The cylinder 5 is provided with a detachable wall section Z) so that the parts of the rotor R may be assembled and disassembled in the cylinder. The piston P is solid and has packing 16 thereon for bearing against the inner surface of the cylinder 5. The pist-on P is formed with a. combustion chamber 17 having an inlet port 18 and an outlet port 19 at the front and rear ends thereof, said ends being vbeveled so asto ineline inwardly and outwardly from each other. In the ends of the piston P there are slidable valves 2O and 21 for closing respec- 28 and a bracket 30 carried by the rotor and' through .which a portion of the stem 23 is slidable so that the spring 29 normally holds the valve 21 closed across the port 19. A.

spring 31 is disposed about the valve stem 22 and impinges against the piston P and the extension 24 to normally hold the valve 20 Aopen as to the port 18. A hub 32 is secured to thel shaft 9 for rotation therewith in any preferred manner such as keys 33 and has spokes 34,l 35, 36 and 37 radiating outwardly therefrom with their outer ends secured to the rotor. -The spoke 34 is secured to the piston 4P, the spoke 35 being secured to the piston P and spokes 36 and 37 arersecuredto sect-ion 12 of the rotor.v These spokes are preferably ninety degrees apart.. A contact 38 is mounted on the spoke 34 and is electrically connected with a conductor 39 extending through a bore 40 provided in the spoke 34. This conductor 39 is -connected with a spark plug 41 threadily engaged in the piston P to terminate in the combustion chamber 17 thereof.

The contact38 at one point in its path ofmovement about the axis of the engine is:

, is more clearly illustrated'in Figure 5. This abutment 45 has a stem 47 extending outwardly therefrom and slidable through a guide 48 which is supported by legs 49 vextending inwardly therefrom and attached'to the cylinder 5J A collar or shoulder 50 is provided on the stem 47 and a'spring 51 is disposer-l about the stem 47 impingingagainst the guide 48 and the collar 5,0 to urge the abutment 45 inwardly. An abutment 45 is slidable through a suitable bearing structure 46 in the cylinder 5, said bearingstructures 46 and 46 being spaced, in the present example of the invention, approximately ninety degrees apart. A stem 47 extends outwardly from the abutment 45 through a guide 48 mounted by means of legs .49 attached to the cylinders. A spring 51 about the stein 47" impinges against a collar on the stem and guide 48 to urge the abutment 45 inwardly.

The cylinder 5 is formed with an exhaust port .53 and an intake port 54 which are slightly circumferentially spaced and also radially spaced, the port 54 being closer to theaxis of the shaft 9 than theA port 53. The ports 53. and 54 are disposed oneto each side of the abutment 45 as is illustrated in Figure 1. A track T has the major portion of its length disposed concentrical'ly about the shaft 9 being supported in placeby a suitable bracket 56 on spokes 7. This track T comprises rail sections 57 and 58. The rail section 58 has an end extension 59 curved inwardly while the rail sect-ion 57 hasan end extension 60 curved outwardly, these extensions being at the same end of the track T. The roller 27 operates n the inner surface of the rail section 57 and the roller 25 operates on the exterior surface of the rail section 58.

The rotor moves in the direction of the arrows shown in Figures 1 and 3 and will be f referred to particularly in describing the apparatus. The rotor moves in'a clockwise direct-ion so that pistons P and P which have the beveled ends will engage the abutments 45 and 45 in the order mentioned. Starting with the parts as disclosed in Figure 1, the combustion chamber 17 of the piston P contains a supply of combustible gas and the valve 21 is open and the valve 20 closed; The ignition takes place as soon as contacts 38 and 42 come together thus exploding the combustible gas and driving the piston P in a i clockwise direction; The piston P engages and opens the abutment 45 and passes thereby, the abutment closing in behind piston P. The piston P as it further travels sets up a suction through theport 54. The piston vP next actuates the abutment 45 at which time the piston P is' actuating the abutment 45. After the' piston P passes by the abutment 45 the rollers 25 and 27 slip 0H the end d of the track T so that spring 29 still maintains the valve 19 closed and spring 31 opens valve 20. As the piston\P moves a vlittle further on roller 25 engages e'v i 59 and roller 27 engages end 60 to cause the closing of valve 20 and the opening of the valve 21 as piston P approaches the abutment 45; As a matter of fact valve 20 is actuated first in an open position to admit through the port 18 the gases sucked in by piston P and compressed between piston P and the abutment 45. The valve 21 practically remains closed until the piston P just about passes the abutment 45 as disclosedgin Figure 1 and then this valve 21 is open. lt will be seen that section 12 of the rotor R closes the port 54 but the section 14 opens this port because of the v'differences in cross sectional area and therefore the piston P will suck gas through the opening 54 but piston P will not. Piston P. moves in front of theburnt gases and forces them out through the exhaust opening 53.

Y Any suitable cooling system may be adapted Atrl to the engine. F or example the shaft 9 may be provided with longitudinally extending passages 70 and 7l in circuit with a pump and a radiator of conventional construction. (lne of the spokes namely 35 is provided With passages 72 and 73 extending respectively from passes 70 and 71 to respectively passages 74 and 7 5 in the piston P. These passages .74,- and 75 communicate With passages 76 and 7 7 respectively, the former being in section 14 and the latter in section 12 and lead to a passage 78 in the piston P. rlhus water may be circulated through the parts having such passages for cooling purposes as will be quite obvious. y l

Any suitable lubricating means may be used and by Wav of example l have disclosed absorbent members 80 in the cylinder 5 between the abutments 45 and 45. rl`hese absorbent members 8() are held in place in any suitable manner siich as by shoulders 81 and plates 82. The absorbent members are disposed in staggered relationship as is 'indicated in Figure 3 to prevent the weakening `of the cylinder. Obviously the pistons and the rotor sections will Wipe against these absorbent members and deliver lubricant 'Eco thereto. 'lh'e lubricant is delivered to the absorbent members by means of pipes 83 provided With branches 84C leading throughvthe plates 82 and the pipe 83 leads from an oil container. lt is preferable to have the oil b of a gravity feed type although a force feed may be used if desired. the escape of gas and oil l provide packing bands 87 in suitable recesses provided interiorly of thefcylinder one to each side of the .slot 10 and pressed inwardly or" the cylinder -by means of springs 88.

llt is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention` will fnow be quite apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof. The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosedmerely by way since in actual practice it statement of the invention lt will belapparent that changes in the 'details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or lscope ofv the invention as hereinafter vclaimed or sacrificing' any of its advantages.

aving thus described my invention, what ll claim as new is:

l. lin an internal combustion engine, a stator member, a rotor member, one of said members being a circularcylinder having a continuous slot in its innermost portion, the other member beingeircnlar and including a .pair of circumferentially spaced pistons havingbeveledv ends and a pair of connecting `sections between the pistons, 'one connect lin order to prevent take and outlet ports at the ends thereof,

valves for closing the ports, a track mounted on the'cylinder, the major portion of the track being concentric With the cylinder and including a pair of rails terminating at one end of the track in opposite odset extension spaced from the other end of the track, rollers for riding on the opposite sides ofthe rails, means for mounting the rollers on the rails, means normally closing the valve over the exhaust port, means normally opening 'the valve from the intake port, said odset extensionsl actuating the valve through the rollers to overcome the means, a pair of abutments movable across the cylinder, and means normally urging the abutment inwardly against said member, said abutment being circumferentially spaced, one to each side of the ed# set extension, said' cylinder .being formed with circumferentially and radially spaced exhaust and intake openings, one to` each side mf one abutment, the intake opening being closed by said one section.

2. ln an internal combustion engine, a stator member, a rotor member, one. of said members being a circular cylinder, the other member being circular and including a pair of circumferentially spaced pistons having tions between the pistons, one piston eing formed with a combustion chamber with intake and outlet ports at the ends thereof, kvalve for closing the ports, means for operating the valves to open and close the ports, a

pair of abutments movable across the cylinder, means normally urging the abutments inwardly against said other member, said abutments being circumerentially spaced one to each side of the offset extensions, said cylinder being formed with circumferentially and radially spaced exhaust and. intake openings, one to,y each side of one abutment, one of said sections closing the intake chamber.

Y 3. lin an internal combustion engine, a stator member., a rotor member, one of said members being a circular cylinder, the other member being circular` and including a pair ,of circumferentially spaced pistons having 120' beveled ends and a pair of connecting sections between the pistons, one connecting section being longer and larger in section than the other` section, one piston being formed withv a combustion chamber having intake'andvoutlet ports'v at the ends of the eveled ends and a pair of connectin secopeningpas it passes thereby, and i nition means for tiring gases 1n the com ustion cumferentially spaced, one to each side of the f offset extension, said cylinder being formed with circumfei'entially and radially spaced exhaust and intake openings, one to each side of one abutment, intake openings being closed by said one section as it passes thereby, and ignition means for tiring gases in the combustion chamber.

4. In an internal combustion engine, a stator member, a rotor member, one ot said members being a circular cylinder, the other member being circular and including a pair of circumferentially spaced pistons having beveled ends and a pair of connecting sections between the pistons, one connecting section being longer and larger in section than the other section, one piston being formed with a combustion chamber having intake and outlet ports at the ends of the pistons, Valves for closing the ports, means for actuating the valves, a pair of abutments movable across the cylinder, means for normally urging .the abutments inwardly against said other member, said abutments being circumerent-ially spaced, one to each side of the offset extension, said cylinder being formed with eircumierentially and radially spaced exhaust and intake openings, one to each side of one abutment, intake openings being closedl by said one section as it passes thereby, and ignition means for tiring gases in the combustion chamber, said other member being provided with a passage extending therethrough, spokes extending inwardly from said other member, a hub at the inner ends of the spokes, a shaft in the hub having passes extending longitudinally therewith and connnunicating with passages in one of the spokes, the passages in one of the spokes eonnnunicating ywith the passages of said other member, all of said passages being for the purpose of circulating water for cooling purposes. n

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NIELS F. HANSON. 

